two things that might make it a harder get-
first, they've been knocked for playing 2 G5s and/or patsies a year so beginning about '26, they're toughening up the OOC. second, with the addition of more schools in the SEC, their OOC openings will be reduced by (1 game?)- the egg or the chicken?
to answer the ?, yes, play the very best once in a while. play UCLA, for instance, like Coastal is this year- a trip/vacation/prestige game mostly for your players, not necessarily to make money. or play Oklahoma, like Ark St is this year.
from a strictly football POV, do these games help a G5 or FCS get better as a program? maybe, maybe not
Bama's future OOC- familiar names
https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/alabama/